Navi Mumbai, February 5: India secured a 30-run victory against South Africa in a warm-up match held at the DY Patil Sports Academy. Ishan Kishan, who opened the innings and scored a blistering half-century, expressed his readiness to bat in any position.
In Wednesday’s warm-up match, Ishan scored 53 runs off just 20 balls, hitting 7 sixes and 2 fours before retiring out. After the match, he shared his excitement, stating, “I was very enthusiastic about this game. Batting at number three was enjoyable, but with the World Cup approaching, I am prepared to bat anywhere. My focus is always on giving my best for the team.”
He emphasized the importance of staying present, keeping an eye on the ball, and playing shots as needed. “I don’t overthink; I just react. I watch the ball and play accordingly. This approach has worked well for me. Some days you feel great, others not so much. The pitch was excellent for batting, and it supported the batsmen in the second innings as well. With the World Cup so close, it’s crucial to trust yourself and play your shots, even if a fielder is present.”
In this warm-up match, Tilak Varma also shone, scoring 45 runs off 19 balls, including 3 sixes and 3 fours, and bowled an over as well.
Ishan praised Varma, saying, “He is a vital player for us. He’s not just a batsman anymore; he can bowl a few overs, especially against left-handed batsmen. He is an excellent fielder, and with his current batting form, we need someone at number three who can rotate the strike and maintain the run rate.”
Despite scoring 240 runs, India won the match by only 30 runs. Ishan noted, “There is always room for improvement. We will discuss where to bowl against the batsmen and how we can strategize better. However, I believe we performed well on this wicket. It wasn’t easy, and we didn’t concede too many sixes. Overall, it was a solid bowling performance, but we will definitely discuss how to improve further.”